Venice Florida's Inshore at Sharky's

Visiting Venice Florida would be incomplete if you have not had an experience out on the boards of our local city pier and experienced a catch to remember while fishing inshore Florida. The Venice Fishing Pier, at around 700 feet long, it is located at 1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice, Florida within the boundaries of Brohard Beach Park, along with a seaside restaurant at its base; the Shanghai-la of Venice, Florida; “Sharky’s on the Pier.”

Papa’s, the bait and tackle Shoppe on the pier has fishing rentals of light tackle so you too can catch the big one when visiting our Venice Fishing Pier and if you really want to know why the call it “Sharky’s”, come on out to the end of the pier and watch some of us local boys and girls, hook it up with some really big fish! Black Tips to Bulls, Hammers and Lemons, sharks of all sizes and weights are caught and released out there on the boards at the pier.

If you are planning fishing trip here in Venice following some simple rules and etiquette will ensure a safe and exciting experience. Look at your surroundings before trucking across the beach to the waters edge. Do not set up and fish in a swimming area; posted or not! Swimmers and hooks do not mix! There are plenty of stretches on both sides to accommodate angler and allow swimmers the pleasure of not being hooked. If you are in immediately south of Sharky's on the Pier, you are at the dog beach; where people are allowed and the pets are in control. Dogs and fishing lines do not mix, so be courteous and do not fish there. Either move on to the Venice Fishing Pier or to the other side of our Paw Park and fish the Casperson Beach area, where swimmers and fishers do mingle, so watch out for them because they are not watching out for you!

If fishing the beach and you are not a full time resident, you will need to purchase a fishing license. If on the pier, no license is required but you must adhere to all the fishing and pier rules. Pets are not allowed on the pier as well, you must remember” no alcohol" allowed on the pier and there is a two rod limit while fishing. You can take as many rods out as you wish but you can only fish with two of them at the same time. There is no fee to access the pier and the best part is that avid and amateur anglers alike can fish from the pier without a fishing license. Therefore, if you are just in town for a few weeks and want to try out fishing for the first time before you buy a license, this is the best place to start.

Though you can fish anywhere on the pier, please show respect and try to limit your light tackle fishing on the straight part of the pier and leave the T for the heavy equipment enthusiasts. On the T, angler are fishing with 4/0's, 6/0's, 9/0's and larger reels. Most of this activity is at night when the nocturnal feeders (sharks) begin their search for supper. Sharks in the six to eight foot range are most common at night with King or Spanish Mackerels, Cobia and Tarpon taken on the tee in the day light hours. From the Tee back to the beach you can enjoy Trout (Weakfish), flounder, sheepshead, whiting, bluefish, lady fish, red fish, snappers, catfish, and the infamous snook. Do not forget to pick up an inexpensive crab net for the kiddies. If you do not catch any fish you are almost guaranteed a crab dinner for the sand, blue and stone crabs live at the base of the pillions.

Or if you have the time and would enjoy a tour or fishing excursion in our back country waters of inshore Florida, check out Captain Mikes site at Reel Addiction Sportfishing. Catching monster red fish is a sight you will never forget and remember if you have kids, when fishing with Captain Mike aboard Reel Addiction, he has a real addiction in taking kids fishing.

Having fun while fishing inshore Florida waters from Venice, Florida will be a memory to cherish for a lifetime.

“FISH ON!”

About the Author

I work as a freelance writer/photographer with publications in local
newsprint, Florida Wildlife Magazine, North American Fisherman, Woods 'n Water Magazine, Kayak Fishing Magazine, Associated Content and I have literally fished from Perth, Australia to Timbuktu, Africa calling Florida my home now.

Best fish to catch is one with fins and teaching the philosophy of "Positive Mentoring through Fishing." Previous commercial fishing trawlers Captain/Sport fishing guide and now engage as a volunteer Wish Giver with the Make a Wish Foundation and webmaster/writer for The Island Anglers, Inshore Florida, Reel Addiction Sportfishing and Bassets R Us.